Jenny, the specula are really easy to find online, and they used to sell them in the sex toy shop on Wickendon street, back before it changed owners. Not sure if they still do, but you might call. We're in DC now, or I'd dig one out from my stash for you.

Seraf, thanks for the link. Those will work well. Last time I was TTC I was dating a vet, and the one time I ran out of catheters she brought me a couple from her practice. They really do use them for tomcats...

Oh, and Jenny, congrats on getting started! I can give you the name of a local homebirth midwife who will do at-home IUIs, if you are interested. She did mine when I was TTC with Ocean and the friend who normally helped me was out of town. That was actually the cycle I got pregnant, too.

Also, just FYI, I've heard anecdotally that the fertility clinic at Women and Infants has some sort of "leftover" sperm bank- samples that people had shipped there and then never used. I never followed up on it (I was pretty determined to avoid an REs office), but if you find yourself headed that route, it's worth asking about. Anything to save on sperm $$...

I will definitely keep the W&I clinic in mind. I have a friend who may be giving me her husband's frozen -- they didn't end up ever needing it.

I have another known donor (fresh) that I'm planning to use, too. So, the tomcat may end up being unnecessary... I'm waiting to find out about the frozen before I buy it. ( I have this correct, right? Only washed sperm can be used for an IUI, right?)

Are you referring to midwife MM-H? She is on my list! I am also friends with some of her assistants, so I'm thinking perhaps they may be able to help. We're doula buddies. :)

The person I'm referring to is based out of Mass. She posts here in the RI Tribe- PaigeCPM. But yes, Mary would be closer. She wasn't doing the home stuff back when I was TTC/pregnant. I totally would have had a homebirth with her if I could have.

And yes, if you're hooked up with the doulas you won't have any problem finding someone to help you!

Jenny, I'm serafs partner. Pm me your address and we can send you some speculums in the mail on Monday! Congrats on all of your hard work paying off! And yes, only washed sperm can be used fr iuis. Someone on QC said they buy ici sperm and their doc washes it to use for iui, so if you have access to that, that may work too!

DP to Sara, two crazy kids running around, lil dude born 11-1-11 and the new guy is home !! (5/2/12)

I'm not sure if it's true that only washed sperm can be used for IUI's... I remember this conversation happening back when we were TTC our DS. He was a DIY IVI job. I was never really into the idea of a DIY IUI until my naturopath handed me a stack of catheters and specula yesterday.

I'm not sure if it's true that only washed sperm can be used for IUI's... I remember this conversation happening back when we were TTC our DS. He was a DIY IVI job. I was never really into the idea of a DIY IUI until my naturopath handed me a stack of catheters and specula yesterday.

Does anyone know more?

Hmm. I have *definitely* read in multiple places that only washed sperm should be used for IUI. There are risks of cramping and infection if unwashed sperm is deposited straight into the uterus. That said, I remember a couple of years ago someone wrote about their REs office accidently doing their IUI with unwashed sperm, and nothing terrible happened. So, I don't know...

Thanks Angela - I did my research and you're right. You can do it but you're not likely to get pregnant because the prostaglandins in the unwashed semen will likely cause cramping/contractions which will prevent the swimmers from implanting. So it will hurt and not be useful. Infection is also a possibility.

So then, the specula? I remember people being concerned about using one if just doing an IVI/ICI because when pulling it out, a bunch of semen comes out - is that a real concern? Anyone got some thoughts?

Thanks Angela - I did my research and you're right. You can do it but you're not likely to get pregnant because the prostaglandins in the unwashed semen will likely cause cramping/contractions which will prevent the swimmers from implanting. So it will hurt and not be useful. Infection is also a possibility.

So then, the specula? I remember people being concerned about using one if just doing an IVI/ICI because when pulling it out, a bunch of semen comes out - is that a real concern? Anyone got some thoughts?

Yes, I too have heard that if you're doing an IVI/ICI you should not use a speculum, because you don't want to pull any sperm out by accident. That said, I've never used fresh, so I'm not really sure how much you have to work with. With the frozen vials, there is SO LITTLE FLUID there, you really don't want to waste a drop. Are you thinking that using a speculum will help you deposit the goods closer to the target, and thus, have a better chance of some sperm making it to the other side?

We are having issues getting our sperm out of Fairfax Cryobank. Their piclup form requires us to get a doc or licensed something to sign. Its insane cuz we also habe to.do it 24 hrs in advance. Does anyone know whom in.the dc/north va area could help us? [/ SIZE]

I had my regular doc sign my form too. They might even allow a nurse practitioner, I'm not sure.

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Ha, this is an old thread! Yes, for most banks (I believe NW Cryobank is the exception) you'll need a doctor's signature. The nurse practicioner in my student health clinic signed for me back when I was TTC number 1. She had nothing to do with my inseminations- I just told her what I was doing, asked for a signature, and she did it.

JoySeattle, if you're willing to share, I'd also love to hear what you did differently on your BFP cycle. We will be doing a home-IUI Thursday-ish of this week and would love to hear feedback about what has worked for others. We conceived our son on the second try with home IUI but that was over 5 yrs ago and I feel like we've forgotten everything!

OK, so I did a little experiment this cycle and I figured I'd report about it here since others looking for at-home IUI info may find it interesting.

This month I actually did the IUI myself -- solo. It was easier than I thought and actually smoother than I expected.

I set up everything within reach and sat on the edge of a really low foot stool. I put a standing cosmetic mirror on the floor and put the speculum in. I used a tiny flashlight in my mouth that when aimed at the mirror lit everything up perfectly. I sucked up sperm into the catheter and carefully moved the tip of the catheter toward the cervical os being careful not to touch it to anything else (vaginal wall, outside of the cervix, etc). The catheter only needed a little wiggle to get it to 2-3" in. It was actually the smoothest IUI I've ever had and I wonder if this "squatting" position is actually better for performing an IUI than lying on one's back. I think maybe the abdominal organs and gravity push down on the uterus and make it flatter. I slowly depressed the syringe plunger and not a single drop flowed back out (also better than most IUIs I've had).

The whole experience was so great than I think I'll do it this way every time. DW is super sqeemish about medical things and feels queezy and light-headed at the sight (sometimes just the thought) of blood or many bodily things.

I also just wanted to add that this SOLO IUI was our BFP! Keeping my fingers crossed that it really sticks (I'm only at 11DPO) but I guess now we actually know that the method I described above actually works!

Great question about washing -- I've heard is that you should never do iui with unwashed sperm (it won't work because the sperm are still coated in seminal fluid that would normally be scrubbed off on the swim up from the cervix). You can to ici with fresh unwashed sperm at home. You just put the tip of the syringe right against or into the OS.

My doctor recently mentioned to me that she is happy to do the washing process only for lesbian couples who use fresh sperm. She runs a small office so i was shocked that she would offer such a service. She said that she purchased the machine for $200 so it wasn't a huge investment. I believe that the sperm must be spun to separate them from the seminal fluid. If you happen to live in the northeast, this MD is willing to wash sperm with "no questions asked" I believe legally, they are supposed to require that the sperm be frozen for 6mo for the donor to be HIV tested again before insemination but she is willing to do it anyway. As for this $200 machine, I will ask her more about it to see if it might be accessible for private purchase.